Download THE TRIUNE BRAIN

THE TRIUNE BRAIN
A system according to Dr. Paul Maclean,
Chief of the Laboratory of Brain Evolution and Behavior at the NIMH, 1971-1985
The Brain Stem (a.k.a. Reptilian Brain)
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Always on the alert for life-threatening events
Controls basic life functions: heart rate, breathing, pain response, etc.
We “downshift” when responding to life-threatening conditions
“Flight or Fight” level of the brain (self preservation / aggression)
Action takes place without thinking;
Anything that is a threat – real or perceived – causes brains to “downshift”
When “downshifting” occurs, learning cannot take place
The Limbic System (a.k.a. Paleo-mamillian System)
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This is the home of the emotions, pleasure, memory formation, sense of smell
This part of the brain has visual memory, but language is limited to yells,
screams, expletives
Threats can cause downshifting, but not to “blanking out” stage of the brain stem
Military trainers deliberately provoke this system in trainees
The Cerebral Cortex / Neocortex (a.k.a. Neo-mamillian)
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Conducts intellectual / rational tasks
Processes thousands of bits of information per minute
Six levels deep and is 76% of human brain
Slowest response time of the three levels of the brain
The home of academic learning and cognitive thinking
Students must be in this level if learning is to take place (therefore, learning
environment must be absent of threats)